The Virginia Architect License Application (Form A416-0401LIC, revision dated 08/01/2025) is the form you file with the Virginia Board for Architects, part of the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR), to become a licensed architect in the Commonwealth. You file it whether you are testing for the first time, transferring a license from another state by comity, or bringing a long-lapsed Virginia license back to life.
Getting this form right matters because DPOR will not “fix” a missing reference or a blank box for you. A single skipped attachment can push your approval back by weeks, and a wrong answer on the conviction questions can lead to a denial. With Virginia’s architect application fee now set at $150 as of August 1, 2025, an avoidable rejection also costs you real money, since application fees are not refundable.
Here is what you will learn in this guide:
- 🏛️ Who must file Form A416-0401LIC and which of the three licensure paths fits you
- 📋 Every document, form, and ID number to gather before you open the application
- ✍️ A line-by-line walkthrough of all 17 numbered questions, with sample entries
- 👥 Three full filled-out examples for an exam candidate, a comity applicant, and a reinstatement filer
- ⚠️ The mistakes that trigger holds, denials, and lost fees — and how to dodge them
What the Form Is and Who Must File It
Form A416-0401LIC is the official Architect License Application for the Commonwealth of Virginia. It is issued by DPOR on behalf of the Board for Architects, Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, Certified Interior Designers and Landscape Architects, often shortened to APELSCIDLA. The form authority comes from Title 54.1, Chapter 4 of the Code of Virginia and the Board’s rules at 18VAC10-20. In plain terms, this is the document that turns you from an applicant into a person who may legally use the title “Architect” and stamp drawings in Virginia.
You must file this form if you fall into one of three groups. First, exam candidates who want Virginia to approve them to sit for the Architect Registration Examination (ARE) or who have passed it and want their license. Second, architects already licensed in another state, territory, or Canadian province who want a Virginia license by comity (Virginia’s word for reciprocity). Third, former Virginia architects whose license expired five or more years ago and who must reinstate.
The consequence of practicing without this license is serious. Virginia treats unlicensed practice of architecture as a violation that can bring civil penalties and, in some cases, criminal charges. The license also protects the public, because the Board verifies your education, your experience, and your character before letting you seal documents that affect buildings people live and work in.
A common misconception is that an NCARB Certificate alone lets you practice in Virginia. It does not. The NCARB Certificate speeds up your paperwork, but you still must file this application, pay the fee, and receive an actual Virginia license number before you touch a Virginia project.
Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need
Filling out the form is the easy part. Gathering the supporting documents is where most applicants stall, so collect these items before you write a single word. Missing any one of them leaves your package “incomplete,” and an incomplete package is not reviewed until the gap is closed.
Use this pre-filing checklist:
- Your full legal name as printed on your ID. The Board cross-checks this against your other records, and a mismatch (for example, a nickname) delays processing.
- Your Social Security Number or Virginia DMV Control Number. State law requires at least one; without it, the form is rejected on its face.
- Date of birth and any maiden or former names. These help the Board match you to old exam or license records, and a missing former name can split your file into two.
- Three Architect Reference Forms. Each must be less than one year old and signed by a licensed architect who has known you for at least a year and worked with you within the last five.
- Education proof. This is an Architect Degree Verification Form for NAAB-accredited degrees, or an original official transcript for everything else.
- Experience verification. Use the Architect Experience Verification Form or, for self-employment, at least three Architect Client Experience Verification Forms per period.
- Your NCARB Record or Certificate number, if you have one, since it can replace references and experience for comity and reinstatement filers.
- Documentation of 16 hours of continuing education from the last two years, required only for reinstatement and re-eligibility filers.
- Payment. A check or money order payable to the Treasurer of Virginia, or a completed credit card insert.
If any item is missing, the most common result is a written deficiency notice and a frozen application. The Board will not chase down your references or your school for you, so the burden of a complete package rests entirely on you.
Where to Get the Form and How to Access It
The official application lives on the DPOR website. You can download the current Architect License Application PDF directly, and the version you want shows A416-0401LIC-v3 with a revision date of 08/01/2025 in the footer of every page. Always confirm that date before you start, because an older version may list outdated fees or omit current questions.
You reach the form three ways. The simplest is the DPOR Applicants page, where you select “Architects” and download the packet. You can also start from the APELSCIDLA Board page, which hosts every related form (references, experience, degree verification) in one place. Finally, many applicants manage parts of the process through their NCARB account, which transmits exam eligibility and Certificate Records straight to the Board.
The PDF is an interactive, fillable document. You can type your answers on screen, then use the Print Form button at the bottom of each page to produce a clean copy for signing and mailing. There is also a Reset Form button, which wipes every field, so avoid clicking it by accident near the end of your work.
A common misconception is that you can submit the whole thing online with a few clicks like a tax return. In practice, the architect application is a print-sign-and-mail process for the core form, even though pieces like NCARB transmittals and the regulations exam move electronically. Plan to physically mail your signed packet with payment.
Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out Form A416-0401LIC Line by Line
The application runs six pages. Pages 1 and 2 are instructions, and pages 3 through 6 hold the questions you complete, numbered 1 through 17. Work through them in order, because several questions tell you to “skip to question #15” depending on your path.
Method of Licensure (Top of Page 3)
This is the first thing you mark, and it sets your fee. The form asks you to select the one method by which you are applying: By Examination (Trans 1005, $150.00), By Comity (Trans 1021, $150.00), or Reinstatement of a VA Architect License that expired 5 or more years ago (Trans 4020, $410.00).
To answer, check exactly one box. Daniel Reyes, a recent graduate sitting for the ARE for the first time, checks “By Examination” and notes the $150 fee. The form also asks two yes/no sub-questions here: whether this is your first time applying in Virginia to take the exam, and whether you are applying with an NCARB Certificate Record.
A nuance trips up people whose license expired between six months and five years ago. The instructions are explicit: if your license lapsed more than 6 months but less than 5 years, you do not use this form. You file the separate Architect License Reinstatement Application instead.
The most common mistake is checking two methods or leaving the fee mismatched with the method. If you mark “By Comity” but enclose the reinstatement fee, the Board cannot process the package and returns it. Remember that the fee is not refundable, so a duplicate or wrong payment is money you may not get back.
A misconception here is that paying the higher reinstatement fee “covers” any path. It does not. Each method maps to one transaction code, and overpaying does not speed up or upgrade your review.
Question 1: Have You Ever Held a Virginia Architect License?
This question asks, in plain English, whether you have ever been a licensed Virginia architect before. It separates brand-new applicants from returners.
To answer, check No or Yes. If yes, you must write your VA License Number and the Expiration Date in the spaces provided. Karen Whitfield, whose Virginia license expired in 2019, checks “Yes” and writes her old license number and 06/30/2019.
The nuance is the timing rule attached to this box. If the license expired more than six months but less than five years ago, the form tells you to stop and use the reinstatement application instead. If it expired five years or more ago, you stay on this form and pay the reinstatement fee.
A common mistake is answering “No” because you forgot an old, short-lived license. That creates a duplicate record under your name and triggers a manual review that delays approval. The misconception is that an expired license “doesn’t count,” when in fact the Board still has it on file and expects you to disclose it.
Question 2: Full Legal Name
This field asks for your full legal name exactly as it appears on your government-issued ID or other legal documentation. The form breaks it into Last (required), First (required), Middle, and Generation.
To answer, type your name in the matching boxes using your legal spelling, not a nickname. Maria Lopez enters Lopez in Last, Maria in First, leaves Middle blank, and skips Generation. If you go by “Jr.” or “III,” put that in the Generation box.
The nuance covers people whose ID shows a hyphenated or two-part surname. Enter the full surname as printed, including the hyphen, so it matches your references and transcripts.
The common mistake is entering a preferred first name that differs from your ID. The Board cross-checks names against your other documents, and a mismatch triggers a hold while staff confirm you are the same person. The misconception is that small differences “don’t matter,” but on a legal credential, exact matching is the whole point.
Question 3: Social Security Number and/or Virginia DMV Control Number
This field asks for at least one government identification number. State law requires every applicant for a Virginia license to provide a Social Security Number or a Virginia DMV Control Number.
To answer, write the number in the format shown, with the dashes the form lays out for the SSN. Daniel Reyes enters his SSN as 123-45-6789. The instructions add an important rule: enter the same identification number you used on prior exams, applications, or licenses on file with the department.
The nuance is for applicants without an SSN. If you do not have one, you supply the Virginia DMV Control Number instead, which satisfies the same legal requirement.
The common mistake is leaving this blank because of privacy worry. A blank here is a hard stop; the Board cannot accept an application missing both numbers. The misconception is that the SSN is optional or “just for taxes,” when it is actually a statutory requirement for licensure in Virginia.
Question 4: Date of Birth
This field asks for your date of birth in MM/DD/YYYY format. It helps the Board match you to historical records and confirm identity.
To answer, type the date using two-digit month and day and a four-digit year. Maria Lopez writes 03/14/1985 in the date of birth box.
The nuance is formatting. Do not write the date as “March 14, 1985” or “14/03/1985,” because the field expects the U.S. numeric order. A reversed or spelled-out date can be misread during data entry.
The common mistake is transposing digits, such as writing 1958 instead of 1985, which can cause your record to fail an identity match. The misconception is that date of birth is a throwaway field, when in fact the Board uses it alongside your name and ID number to find prior exam scores.
Question 5: Maiden or Former Name(s)
This field asks for any maiden name or former legal names you have used. It links records created under a different name to your current file.
To answer, list each former name on the line provided; if none, leave it blank. Karen Whitfield, formerly Karen Doyle, writes Doyle as her maiden name.
The nuance covers applicants who changed their name after taking the ARE or earning a degree. Listing the old name lets the Board connect your transcript, exam scores, and references to today’s application.
The common mistake is omitting a former name that appears on your school transcript, which splits your documents across two identities and stalls review. The misconception is that you only list a name if you “still use it,” when the Board actually needs every name your records might be filed under.
Question 6: Mailing Address
This field asks for the mailing address that will be printed on your license. A PO Box is accepted here.
To answer, enter your street or PO Box, city, state, and ZIP. Daniel Reyes enters 200 Granby St, Norfolk, VA 23510. Because this address appears on the license itself, choose one that will stay current.
The nuance is that this is the only address field where a PO Box is allowed, which helps applicants who do not want a home address on a public credential.
The common mistake is listing a temporary address you will leave soon, which means license and renewal notices go to the wrong place. The misconception is that the mailing address is private, when the license and many Board records are public.
Question 7: Street Address (Physical Address Required)
This field asks for your physical street address, and a PO Box is not accepted. There is a checkbox to mark if it is the same as your mailing address.
To answer, enter a real street location with city, state, and ZIP, or check the “same as mailing address” box if they match. Maria Lopez checks the box because her home address serves as both. If you use a business address, include the business name, full street address, and any floor or suite number.
The nuance is for applicants who only have a PO Box for mail. You still must supply a physical address here, even if it differs from where you receive mail.
The common mistake is entering a PO Box in this field, which the form rejects outright since a physical location is required. The misconception is that a PO Box “counts as an address everywhere,” when this box specifically demands a street location.
Question 8: Contact Numbers and Email
This field asks for your primary telephone, an alternate phone, and your email address. The form warns that your email address is a public record and will be disclosed on request.
To answer, type a phone number the Board can reach you at and an email you check often. Daniel Reyes lists his cell as (757) 555-0142 and his email as daniel.reyes@email.com.
The nuance involves privacy. Because the email is public, some applicants use a dedicated professional email rather than a personal one they want kept private.
The common mistake is giving an email you rarely check, which means you miss the regulations exam, deficiency notices, and approval messages. The misconception is that the Board mainly calls applicants, when in practice much communication, including the regulations exam, moves by email.
Question 9: Re-Applying for Exam Eligibility
This question asks whether you are re-applying for exam eligibility after a prior period expired. It applies to people who already started the exam process but ran out of their three-year window.
To answer, check No or Yes; if yes, review the listed requirements and skip to question #15. A first-time applicant like Daniel checks “No” and moves on.
The nuance is the strict re-eligibility test. Your original eligibility must have expired less than six months ago, and you must have taken at least one exam during that period. If you fail either test, you must resubmit new references with this application.
The common mistake is checking “Yes” when you never had a prior eligibility period, which routes your file down the wrong path. The misconception is that re-applying is automatic; in reality, the Board re-evaluates whether you still qualify.
Question 10: Re-Applying Requirements Reference
This part lists what a re-eligibility applicant must include: training certificates showing 16 hours of continuing education, three Architect Reference Forms, and experience verification covering the time from expiration to the present.
To answer, you do not check a box here; you use it as a checklist if Question 9 was “Yes.” Karen, who is reinstating rather than re-applying for exam eligibility, reads this and confirms it does not apply to her.
The nuance is that the experience must run from the date your prior eligibility expired up to today, with no gaps. Partial coverage invites a deficiency notice.
The common mistake is submitting old references from your first application, when the forms must be less than one year old. The misconception is that prior paperwork stays “on file” and can be reused, when the Board requires fresh documents.
Question 11: Applying to Reinstate a License
This question asks whether you are reinstating a Virginia license that expired five or more years ago. If yes, you provide the listed items and skip to question #15.
To answer, check No or Yes. Karen Whitfield checks “Yes” because her license lapsed in 2019. An NCARB Certificate Record may be submitted in place of references and experience.
The nuance is the five-year line again. This question is only for the long-lapsed; shorter lapses use the separate reinstatement application noted earlier.
The common mistake is reinstating through this form when your lapse was under five years, which means you used the wrong form entirely and start over. The misconception is that any expired license reinstates the same way, when the timing decides which form and fee apply.
Question 12: Education Table
This field asks you to complete a table of your educational history, including the institution, degree type (BS, BA, etc.), major, and the MM/YY completed. Rows are provided for Bachelor of Architecture, Master of Architecture, and Ph.D.
To answer, fill one row per degree, matching what your transcript shows. Daniel Reyes enters Virginia Tech, B.Arch, Architecture, 05/24. List your NAAB-accredited professional degree first, since that is what the Board weighs most.
The nuance covers applicants with degrees outside architecture or from abroad. Foreign or non-NAAB degrees must be verified by official transcript, and some require an NCARB EESA evaluation.
The common mistake is listing a degree you cannot document, which fails verification and stalls the file. The misconception is that “some architecture coursework” counts as a degree, when the Board records only completed credentials.
Question 13: Applying Through Comity (Questions A & B)
This question asks whether you are applying through comity — Virginia’s reciprocity for architects already licensed elsewhere. If yes, you answer sub-parts A and B, then skip to question #15.
To answer, check Yes or No. Robert Chen, licensed in Maryland, checks “Yes.” In Part A, you state whether you hold an NCARB Certificate. If yes, the Certificate Record must be transmitted directly from NCARB to the Board. If no, you supply experience verification, three references, an Architect Degree Verification Form, and Verification of Examination and Licensure Forms from each jurisdiction. If you were first licensed after January 1, 2001, you must show completion of NCARB-IDP or AXP. In Part B, you list every current license, the state, whether you passed a written exam, the license number, and the expiration date.
The nuance is the “without NCARB Certificate” path, which is far heavier on paperwork. You must meet the Virginia requirements in effect when you were first licensed elsewhere, or the current Virginia requirements if you fall short.
The common mistake is checking “Yes” to holding an NCARB Certificate but never asking NCARB to transmit it, leaving the Board with nothing to verify. The misconception is that listing your out-of-state license number is proof enough, when the Board requires direct verification from each jurisdiction.
Question 14: NCARB-AXP Enrollment (Exam Applicants)
This question asks whether you have enrolled in NCARB’s Architectural Experience Program (NCARB-AXP). It applies to initial exam applicants who did not skip ahead from comity or reinstatement.
To answer, check No or Yes. Daniel Reyes checks “Yes” and arranges for his eligibility to transmit through the NCARB “My Examination” portal, and he submits three Architect Reference Forms. If you check “No,” the form states plainly that initial applicants must be enrolled in NCARB-AXP and provide proof before exam approval; you do not yet qualify.
The nuance is the transmittal step. Enrollment is not enough on its own; you must request that NCARB send your eligibility information to the Board.
The common mistake is assuming enrollment automatically notifies Virginia, when you must trigger the transmittal yourself. The misconception is that AXP is optional for new architects, when it is a firm prerequisite for exam approval.
Question 15: Disciplinary Action History
This question asks whether you have ever been subject to disciplinary action by any local, state, or national regulatory body, including Virginia. Everyone reaches this question, no matter their path.
To answer, check No or Yes. If yes, you must complete the Disciplinary Action Reporting Form and attach it. Robert Chen, who once received a reprimand in another state, checks “Yes” and attaches the reporting form with a full explanation.
The nuance is the word “ever.” It covers actions in any jurisdiction and any profession’s board, not just architecture and not just Virginia.
The common mistake is answering “No” to hide a minor, resolved action, which the Board often discovers through NCARB or background checks. That omission can lead to denial or later revocation for falsifying the application. The misconception is that old or out-of-state discipline is invisible to Virginia, when the Board actively verifies it.
Question 16: Felony Convictions (Part A)
This field, labeled 16A, asks whether you have ever been convicted or found guilty of any felony, regardless of how the case was adjudicated, in any U.S. jurisdiction. If yes, you complete the Criminal Conviction Reporting Form.
To answer, check No or Yes, and attach the reporting form if yes. An applicant with a decade-old felony checks “Yes,” attaches the form, and includes court records and a statement of rehabilitation.
The nuance is “regardless of the manner of adjudication,” which means deferred dispositions and pleas still count and must be reported.
The common mistake is treating a sealed or expunged-feeling case as “gone.” A conviction you fail to disclose, then the Board uncovers, is grounds for denial. The misconception is that a conviction is an automatic bar, when in fact the Board weighs the offense, its age, and your rehabilitation.
Question 16B: Non-Marijuana Misdemeanor Convictions
This field, labeled 16B, asks whether you have ever been convicted or found guilty of any non-marijuana misdemeanor in any U.S. jurisdiction. If yes, you complete the Criminal Conviction Reporting Form.
To answer, check No or Yes, and attach the form if yes. Maria Lopez, who had a misdemeanor years ago, checks “Yes” and attaches an explanation.
The nuance is the carve-out for marijuana, which the question deliberately excludes, reflecting Virginia’s changed marijuana laws.
The common mistake is reporting a marijuana misdemeanor here unnecessarily, or, worse, hiding a reportable non-marijuana one. The misconception is that “minor” misdemeanors need not be disclosed, when the question reaches any non-marijuana misdemeanor regardless of how small it feels.
Question 17: Certification and Signature
This final block is your sworn certification. By signing, you certify that your information is true, that you will report any new disciplinary action or conviction before licensure, and that you authorize the Department to verify everything and run a background check. You also confirm you have read the laws under Title 54.1, Chapter 4 and the Board’s regulations.
To answer, sign your name and write the date in the Signature and Date fields on page 6. Daniel Reyes signs his name and dates it 06/03/2026.
The nuance is the ongoing duty. Your certification is not a one-time snapshot; it obligates you to notify the Board of any change, like a new conviction, before your license issues.
The common mistake is mailing an unsigned application, which is the single fastest way to have a package rejected and returned. The misconception is that the signature is a formality, when it is a legally binding statement that exposes you to denial or revocation if false.
Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios
Below are three common filers walked through the form from top to bottom. Each table shows what that person enters in the key sections.
Scenario 1 — Daniel Reyes, a recent B.Arch graduate applying by examination for the first time.
| Form Section | What Daniel Enters |
|---|---|
| Method of Licensure | Checks By Examination, Trans 1005, fee $150.00 |
| First time applying in VA to test? | Yes |
| Q1: Held a VA license before? | No |
| Q2: Full Legal Name | Reyes, Daniel (Middle and Generation blank) |
| Q3: SSN | 123-45-6789 |
| Q4: Date of Birth | 07/22/1999 |
| Q12: Education | Virginia Tech, B.Arch, Architecture, 05/24 |
| Q14: Enrolled in NCARB-AXP? | Yes, transmits via “My Examination” portal, adds 3 references |
| Q15/16: Discipline and convictions | No to all |
| Q17: Signature | Signs and dates 06/03/2026 |
Scenario 2 — Robert Chen, a licensed Maryland architect applying by comity with an NCARB Certificate.
| Form Section | What Robert Enters |
|---|---|
| Method of Licensure | Checks By Comity, Trans 1021, fee $150.00 |
| Applying with NCARB Certificate Record? | Yes |
| Q1: Held a VA license before? | No |
| Q2: Full Legal Name | Chen, Robert, T |
| Q3: SSN | 987-65-4321 |
| Q13: Applying through comity? | Yes; Part A marks NCARB Certificate Yes (transmitted by NCARB) |
| Q13 Part B: Other licenses | Maryland, exam Yes, License #12345, exp 12/31/2027 |
| Q15: Disciplinary action? | Yes — attaches Disciplinary Action Reporting Form |
| Q16: Convictions? | No to felony and misdemeanor |
| Q17: Signature | Signs and dates 06/03/2026 |
Scenario 3 — Karen Whitfield, a former Virginia architect reinstating a license that expired in 2019.
| Form Section | What Karen Enters |
|---|---|
| Method of Licensure | Checks Reinstatement (5+ years), Trans 4020, fee $410.00 |
| Q1: Held a VA license before? | Yes; license number and exp 06/30/2019 |
| Q2: Full Legal Name | Whitfield, Karen |
| Q5: Maiden or Former Name | Doyle |
| Q3: SSN | 456-78-9012 |
| Q11: Applying to reinstate? | Yes (or submits NCARB Record in lieu of references/experience) |
| Continuing education | Attaches proof of 16 hours in last 2 years |
| Experience | Architect Experience Verification Form from 2019 to present |
| Q15/16: Discipline and convictions | No to all |
| Q17: Signature | Signs and dates 06/03/2026 |
How to File the Completed Form
Once your form is complete, signed, and paired with every attachment, you assemble one package and send it to the Board. The core architect application is a mail-in process, even though some pieces move electronically.
- By mail. Send your signed application, all forms, and payment to the Board for APELSCIDLA, Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation, 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 400, Richmond, Virginia 23233-1485. Include a check or money order payable to the Treasurer of Virginia, or the completed credit card insert. The architect application fee is $150, or $410 for reinstatement. Keep a full copy and use a mail service with tracking as your proof of filing.
- Electronic transmittals through NCARB. Your exam eligibility (for new applicants) and your NCARB Certificate Record (for comity applicants) are sent directly to the Board through your NCARB account. You trigger these; the Board does not request them for you.
- By phone for questions. You can reach the Board at (804) 367-8506 to confirm receipt or ask about a deficiency, though you cannot file the application itself by phone.
After your package arrives, the Board mails or emails you the required regulations and statutes examination under 18VAC10-20-85. You complete and return it for scoring, and the Board only contacts you if you did not pass.
The proof-of-filing you should keep is your tracking receipt, a copy of your check or credit card insert, and a full photocopy of the signed packet. If anything is lost in the mail, these records let you reconstruct your submission without starting from zero.
What Happens After You File
After the Board receives your package, staff review it for completeness first. They confirm your fee matches your method, your three references are present and current, your education and experience are verified, and your identity numbers are filled in. If something is missing, you receive a deficiency notice describing exactly what to send.
Next comes the substantive review. The Board evaluates your education, experience, exam results, and your answers to the disciplinary and conviction questions. If you answered “Yes” to any of those, the Board weighs your reporting forms and supporting documents, which can add time. You also must pass the open-book regulations examination the Board sends you.
Processing time varies with the season and the completeness of your file, so a clean package moves faster than one that triggers back-and-forth. A common point of confusion is silence from the Board; for the regulations exam, no news is good news, since you are only contacted if you failed it.
Once approved, the Board issues your Virginia Architect license number, and your mailing address from Question 6 is printed on the credential. From that point you must track your renewal and complete 16 hours of continuing education every two years to keep the license active, as Virginia architect renewal rules require.
Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form
- Checking more than one Method of Licensure. The form allows only one; marking two stalls the file while staff seek clarification.
- Enclosing the wrong fee. A comity fee on a reinstatement (or the reverse) causes a return, and the fee is non-refundable.
- Using the wrong form for a 6-month-to-5-year lapse. This form is only for lapses of five years or more; shorter lapses need the separate reinstatement application.
- Submitting references older than one year. Stale references are rejected and your package waits until fresh ones arrive.
- Forgetting to have NCARB transmit your Certificate or eligibility. The Board cannot verify what it never receives.
- Entering a PO Box in the physical-address field (Q7). A street address is required, and a PO Box there is rejected.
- Leaving the SSN/DMV number blank. State law requires one, so a blank is an automatic stop.
- Answering “No” to discipline or convictions to hide them. Discovery later can mean denial or revocation for falsification.
- Mailing an unsigned application. An unsigned form is returned, costing you weeks.
- Omitting a maiden or former name. This splits your records and delays the match to transcripts and exam scores.
- Using a nickname instead of your legal name. Name mismatches trigger identity holds.
- Attaching a resume instead of the official experience forms. Resumes are not accepted, and only Board forms count.
Do’s and Don’ts
Do:
- Do confirm you have version A416-0401LIC-v3 (08/01/2025), because an old form may list wrong fees.
- Do match your name and ID number across every document, so the Board can verify you quickly.
- Do request NCARB transmittals early, since they often arrive after your mailed packet.
- Do keep a complete copy and tracking receipt, which serve as your proof of filing.
- Do read the Board regulations before applying, because you must pass an exam on them.
- Do disclose every discipline and conviction, since honesty protects your license long-term.
Don’t:
- Don’t click “Reset Form” near the end, because it erases everything you typed.
- Don’t send a resume in place of experience forms, as the Board will not consider it.
- Don’t guess on the five-year reinstatement rule, since the wrong form means starting over.
- Don’t use a temporary mailing address, because it prints on your license and gets renewal notices.
- Don’t pay with cash or a check to the wrong payee, since payment must go to the Treasurer of Virginia.
- Don’t assume an NCARB Certificate alone lets you practice, because you still need the Virginia license.
Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Help
Many architects file this application themselves, while others use a licensing service or an attorney, especially when discipline or convictions are involved. Here is how the two approaches compare.
| Filing on Your Own | Filing With Professional Help |
|---|---|
| Pro: Costs only the $150 fee, with no service charge | Pro: A pro spots missing forms before you mail, cutting deficiency risk |
| Pro: You control timing and can transmit NCARB items yourself | Pro: Helpful when you have discipline or convictions to explain |
| Pro: Builds your own understanding of Virginia rules you must follow | Pro: Useful for multi-state firms tracking many licenses at once |
| Con: Easy to miss a reference, signature, or transmittal | Con: Adds cost on top of the non-refundable fee |
| Con: You absorb the full delay if a document is wrong | Con: You still must sign and certify personally; no one can sign for you |
| Con: Comity-without-NCARB paperwork is dense and easy to mishandle | Con: A service cannot pass your regulations exam for you |
FAQs
Is the Virginia architect application fee really $150?
Yes. As of the August 1, 2025 fee schedule, the architect application fee for exam and comity is $150, and reinstatement after five-plus years is $410. The fee is non-refundable.
Can I submit the whole application online?
No. The core Form A416-0401LIC is printed, signed, and mailed to the Board in Richmond, though NCARB transmittals and the regulations exam move electronically.
Do I write a PO Box or a street address in Question 7?
No. Question 7 requires a physical street address and does not accept a PO Box; a PO Box is only allowed in the Question 6 mailing address.
In Question 2, do I use my maiden name or my current legal name?
No, not your maiden name. Enter your current full legal name as it appears on your ID in Question 2, and list any maiden or former name separately in Question 5.
Do I have to enroll in NCARB-AXP before applying by exam?
Yes. Initial exam applicants must be enrolled in NCARB-AXP and provide verification before the Board approves them to test, per Question 14.
Can an NCARB Certificate replace references and experience?
Yes. For comity and reinstatement applicants, an NCARB Certificate Record may be submitted in lieu of references and experience documents.
Do I report a marijuana misdemeanor in Question 16B?
No. Question 16B specifically asks only about non-marijuana misdemeanors, so a marijuana misdemeanor does not belong there.
Must I disclose discipline from another state in Question 15?
Yes. Question 15 asks if you have ever faced disciplinary action by any local, state, or national body, including those outside Virginia and in other professions.
Will a felony conviction automatically deny my license?
No. A felony does not automatically bar licensure; the Board reviews the offense, its age, and your rehabilitation through the Criminal Conviction Reporting Form.
Do I need three references if I have an NCARB Certificate Record for comity?
No. With a transmitted NCARB Certificate Record, comity applicants do not separately submit the three Architect Reference Forms for experience and references.
If my Virginia license expired three years ago, do I use this form?
No. A lapse between six months and five years requires the separate Architect License Reinstatement Application, not Form A416-0401LIC.
Can someone else sign the application for me?
No. You must personally sign the Question 17 certification, since it is a sworn statement authorizing background verification and confirming your information is true.
How long are the reference forms valid?
No form older than one year is accepted; all three Architect Reference Forms must be less than one year old at the time you apply.
Do I have to pass an exam on Virginia regulations?
Yes. Under 18VAC10-20-85, every applicant must pass a Board-supplied exam on its regulations and statutes, which is mailed to you after your application arrives.
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